Applications now open for $30 million early and mid-career research opportunities

Applications are now open for Western Sydney University’s new Vice Chancellor’s Research Fellowship Scheme. The scheme will see an unprecedented $30 million investment in 50 new research-focused fellows over the next five years.

Targeting outstanding early and mid-career national and international researchers whose work aligns with the University’s research strengths, the Fellowships will build on established and rapidly emerging cohorts of research excellence.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice President (Research and Innovation), Professor Deborah Sweeney said this call-out marks a significant shift in Western Sydney University’s journey as a research-led university.

“Western Sydney University is home to world leading research and world leading research teams. Our research concentration and achievements are reflected in  our internationally recognised  reputation for research excellence which is on the ascent.

“Our researchers are renowned for bringing fresh perspectives to intractable and emerging problems, developing solutions that are inclusive and co-designed with those beyond the University’s gates.

“This significant investment in exceptional early and mid-career researchers will help extend Western’s internationalisation, and expand our already burgeoning research capacity. Through these fellowships we are welcoming the next generation of world leaders,” said Professor Sweeney.

This research investment links with other key initiatives being led by Western Sydney University including our Strategic Research Initiative (SRI) program. This program is investing in cross-disciplinary cohorts of research excellence and capacity across the University.

These new SRI centres bring a multidisciplinary approach, which is co-designed with industry partners and research end-users, to global challenges. With a $10 million investment supporting three new sites of research strength so far, the research outcomes are already realising benefits to defence, vulnerable children and adolescent health.

In this first call for Western’s Vice Chancellor’s Fellows, the University is seeking to recruit outstanding early and mid-career researchers in areas that align with our existing research excellence. In line with Western’s ambitions of continued development of critical mass, Fellows are being called in the following specific areas:

Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment

  • Entomology (pest management)
  • Plant Microbe Interactions (pathogens)
  • Plant Molecular Biology
  • Pollination Biology

Institute for Culture and Society (ICS)

  • Cultural Policy and Planning.
  • Sustainability and Globalization

The International Centre for Neuromorphic Systems (ICNS)

  • Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence
  • Neuromorphic Engineering
  • Novel Architectures for Computing Systems

The MARCS Institute for Brain, Behaviour and Development

  • Cognitive Neuroscience
  • Human Machine Interaction and Artificial Intelligence

NICM Health Research Institute

  • Health Economics, Epidemiology and Big Health Data management
  • Integrative Care in chronic disease management
  • Pharmacologist/Natural Products Chemistry

Transforming Early Education and Child Health (TeEACH)

  • Data science approaches to decision making and the economics of the early years
  • Prevention science for families of young children who experience adverse life circumstances

Young  and Resilient Research Centre

  • Children, Rights and Governance
  • Citizenship, Youth and Diversity
  • Digital, Health and Youth
  • Games, participatory platforms and civic hacktivism

For more information contact Saada George on: S.Georges@westernsydney.edu.au

For application details and to apply click here.

ENDS.

Friday, 9 August

Emma Sandham, Senior Media Officer